Get a date in the diary to take part in local beach clean to help animals and the ocean

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Get a date in the diary to take part in local beach clean to help animals and the ocean

12 February 2015

Fancy a different day out with family or friends this March? Then get involved with a local beach clean and embrace the community spirit involved in these events which help protect marine and local wildlife.

World Animal Protection are working with Surfers Against Sewage for their Big Spring Beach Clean, which runs from the 27th to 29th March at various locations around the UK.

In 2014, we sponsored their Autumn Beach Clean Series, which saw thousands of people across the UK clean up at over 130 beach locations including at Croyde in Devon, Chesil Beach in Dorset, and Cromer in Norfolk, collecting over 150km of ghost gear!

Our Sea Change campaign aims to achieve a future free from ghost gear. ‘Ghost gear’ is the term used to describe fishing equipment that has been lost, abandoned or discarded in the worlds’ oceans. It includes fishing nets, ropes, pots and traps. Ghost gear represents one of the biggest threats to animals in our oceans, entangling, injuring and killing millions of animals every year.

An estimated 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear – around 10% of total marine debris – is added to our oceans annually. Combined, it weighs more than the HMS Titanic.

Most fishing gear is made out of plastic meaning that it persists in the oceans for centuries, accumulating year on year. World Animal Protection estimates that more than 136,000 seals, sea lions and large whales are killed by ghost fishing gear every year. An unimaginable number of birds, turtles, fish and other species are also injured and killed.

We hope lots of people around the country will feel inspired to take part in these beach cleans knowing the real difference they can make in helping marine and ocean wildlife. There is a fantastic atmosphere and what is achieved is simply phenomenal. Together we can all make a difference and achieve change.

Sign up for our Sea Change campaign today and get regular email bulletins to find out how to sign up for the Beach Cleans, more about our achievements, the animals we are helping and how you can get involved.